I got a message from a reader who wanted my input on frenum piercings:

Hi there Elayne,

I own your book and respect you and your opinions like no other. Please keep up the good work.

I am curious about a frenum piercing, except lower, about halfway down the shaft and maybe 3 of them. I was wondering if I sent you a picture if I could get your opinion on if my anatomy would be fort for these piercing. I have a very good piercer set up to do it for me, except I dont have a lot of money to make 2 trips, like one extra for a consult. That's why I was asking I you could let my know what you think.

Also I was thinking curved barbell? Whats you opinion on that? Also possibly a horseshoe later on. If you can accept pics what address would I email it to? My piercer and I were talking and she suggested about 1/2" curved barbell at 14 gauge to start. Thanks for your time. J.

This is no joke. A woman went in for a clitoral hood piercing and ended up with an accidental piercing of her clitoral glans! This is one of the reasons I try to suggest people travel if necessary to get pierced by me or visit the piercers I refer to. We know how to place a VCH piercing safely and in the proper location. Unfortunately, many piercers haven't got a clue.

Many women end up with shallow VCH piercings or surface VCH piercings, but this is an error I've seen time and time again. PLEASE BE CAREFUL! Ask your piercer where they got specific training to perform genital piercings--not just how long they've been piercing. I know of piercers who have been doing a poor job for 10-15 years or more. A lengthy career does not guarantee competence!

Here's the message I recently received:

Hello Elayne, I have a quick question about a piercing that I received a week ago. I had a VCH piercing which I believe was too shallow and migrated and so had to be removed. I let it heal for about 6 months and then went to a different studio to have it done again.

The first time was exactly as you describe with a 'pinch' sensation and my ears were definitely a more painful piercing. This time was one of the most painful experiences of my life, which I attributed to it being placed properly this time and having some scar tissue.

I'm writing to get your opinion (and maybe some information) on clitoral hood splitting. I currently have a vch and triangle, which I believe are both placed perfectly. But, I'm still having problems achieving orgasm (I was hoping those would help). I think it's because my hood is rather thick and even when I'm "hard" my clitoris isn't exposed at all so it makes it difficult to actually stimulate it. I've been trying to do some research and maybe find information about hood splitting and where to get it done (I'm located in the midwest) but I can't seem to find much of anything. I was hoping that maybe you could give me some information on it.

Here's an exchange I had with a woman who suspected right away that there was something wrong with her Horizontal Clitoral Hood (HCH) piercing:

I just had a HCH piercing done this afternoon, but 'm freaking out and need some help.... It's swollen a bit and all the time I check it, is still bleeding! Didn`t have any pain after getting it done, just felt a little unconfortable when I walked up to the supermarket few hours later. But is all about this bleeding that seems no to stop! Am so worried and thinking of taking it of... Please would love if you could give me an advice! Thanks ever so much!

The optimal location for the triangle piercing is at the natural base of the hood, as high as it can go and still be underneath the nerve bundle (that's where you are going to get maximum stimulation from the jewelry).

Photo above is of a properly placed triangle piercing with custom-bent circular barbell (so the jewelry rests back against the body, which is great for safety and comfort during healing!).